Why see a pediatric dentist?

As a pediatric practice, we don't just treat the mouth, we treat the entire child. This means offering comfort and compassion, as well as the ability to see every child as an individual. We feel it's important for every child to feel good about oral health — a healthy smile contributes to health and self-esteem. We motivate children to take responsibility for their oral health because nothing makes us happier than seeing our kids taking pride in their smile.

Because we stress preventive dentistry, it's important we regularly monitor the development of your child's teeth. When necessary, we also provide other pediatric services such as restorative dentistry, as well as orthodontic treatment to return the smile to your child's face.

No matter the age of your child, from toddler to teen, the beginning of a great smile begins with the first visit.

Your first visit

The first visit to our practice will be a memorable one because we treat your child as if they were the most important person in our office — that's because they are! We call this our New Patient Experience.

To begin, you and your child are given a tour of the office and are introduced to our entire team. The treatment coordinator will then sit down with you to answer any questions you (or your child) may have.

An initial visit for your child includes any necessary X-rays, followed by a prevention visit that includes a cleaning and fluoride treatment, and oral health instruction with a hygienist. Next, the doctor examines your child and will discuss a prevention or treatment program with you to ensure the best care for your child's oral health.

The final step is with our office manager who will sit down with you and review the visit, explain office policies and procedures, and answer any questions you may have. This initial visit is an excellent opportunity for information gathering and giving. Of course, if you have any questions after you leave the office, call us any time.

From Toddlers to Teens

OK, so you're ready to visit our office. What happens next?

In this section we give you an overview of the pediatric dental process - what to expect when we get started, treatment options, important tips to promote great oral health, and so much more!

Pre Natal

Some women experience dental problems during pregnancy brought on by increasing the amount of times they snack (especially on snacks with sugar which can cause tooth decay) or by hormonal changes which can make gums more sensitive to swelling and/or bleeding. If you are pregnant, it's important to remember that what you eat can also affect your baby. For this reason your doctor may suggest you take vitamins and supplements — not only for your health, but for your baby's health.

Did you know that baby teeth begin to form around the sixth or seventh week of pregnancy? And that adult teeth begin to form in the twelfth week? A nutritious diet will help assure your unborn baby is getting the nutrients needed for development of healthy teeth and body.

Also, be aware of which drugs you use during pregnancy. Some drugs, such as Tetracycline, can cause discoloration in your baby's teeth and may even cause problems in adult teeth. Smoking during pregnancy can also provide problems for your unborn baby such as delayed tooth formation.

It's also important that you regularly brush and floss — gum disease has been linked to premature birth.

Infants

We recommend that you bring your infant for a check-up by their first birthday. You may wonder, "Why are baby teeth so important if they're only going to fall out anyway?" That's a question we hear quite often. Well, baby teeth may be more important than you think — early loss of baby teeth can lead to overcrowding and crooked adult teeth.

Did you know that fruit juice and even milk can damage baby teeth? Did you know that habits such as prolonged thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can lead to severe bite problems? Typical issues for infants include:
Tooth Development
Even before your baby's teeth start to erupt it is important to check their mouth every once in a while to make sure everything looks normal. Checking regularly will also allow you the opportunity to notice when your infant's baby teeth begin to erupt — which is usually around their sixth month. If your baby is 12 months old and baby teeth haven't erupted yet, you should bring your child in to our practice for a check-up. By 18 months, babies usually have six bottom teeth and six upper teeth. All 20 primary teeth should have erupted by their third birthday.

Teething
If your baby is becoming increasingly irritable, is having trouble sleeping, and has been losing their appetite, it may be a sign that they are teething. Check their gums for signs of swelling or bleeding and feel around for any sign that a tooth is erupting. The best thing to do for your baby during this time is to keep their mouth clean by using a damp gauze pad and by giving them a teething ring.

Baby Bottle Syndrome
One of the more serious dental problems related to dietary habits is nursing bottle decay, otherwise known as Baby Bottle Syndrome. This condition usually occurs in young children between the ages of one and two who use a nursing bottle containing milk, juice, or soda as a bedtime pacifier. These fluids are rich in sugar and, as swallowing is reduced during sleep, the sugars in the fluids have time to react with bacteria in the mouth which triggers the beginning of the decaying process. It's for this reason that nothing sweet should be rubbed on pacifiers. Prolonged exposure to the sugars in milk and juice can turn teeth brown and cause them to lose their strength — they can turn rubbery in texture and they can even begin to crumble away which can result in further complications, including infection. Treatment for this condition depends on the severity of decay but can often result in the placing of crowns over the damaged teeth.

Sucking Habits
Sucking habits such as thumb or digit sucking, and tongue thrusting can cause a number of problems with a child's dental development, including severe malocclusion (bad bites), open bites and crossbites. Many children suck their thumbs but stop the habit early enough to avoid any dental complication. However, if a child continues to suck their thumb and/or digits beyond the age of five or six, they can cause severe problems to their bite which often requires treatment.
Our goal is to motivate the child to quit their sucking habit on their own to avoid the possibility of treatment. However, in some cases we use fixed habit appliances to discourage and eliminate a thumb sucking or a tongue thrusting habit. These appliances are made specifically for each individual case to ensure proper fit and function.

Dental Injuries
Infants are especially prone to dental injuries. As babies learn to crawl and walk they are prone to falling and could possibly damage their teeth and/or surrounding gum tissue. Injury that results in a chipped, cracked, loose, or lost tooth should be treated and evaluated by our office immediately.

Anxiety
It is not uncommon for young children to be anxious when visiting a dentist's office. We do all we can to relieve your child's anxiety — we are specially trained to understand child behavior, our staff loves working with children, and, from the relaxing atmosphere to the special fun area, our office has been designed with children in mind. We also recommend that you bring your children in for regular check-ups so they become used to visiting us and we become friendly faces. It's also important not to be too nervous yourself as children can sense parents' emotions through words and gestures — the less anxious you are, the less anxious your child will be. If you have any questions regarding your infant and their oral health feel free to ask. We're here to baby your infant's smile because early dental care today leads to a healthy smile tomorrow.

Formative Years

As your child grows, we encourage regular check-ups (once every six months). This not only helps us watch the development of your child's teeth, but it helps your child grow accustomed to visiting our office and they become more receptive to treatment.

Check-ups allow us to spot early signs of cavities, and to monitor the eruption of teeth. Because we provide interceptive orthodontic treatment, we can treat minor problems before they turn into major ones. Regular check-ups are important. Not only does it give us the chance to clean your child's teeth, but we are able to teach them proper brushing and flossing habits (including technique) so they can take their oral health into their own hands! Typical issues surrounding this age group include:

Crowded/Crooked Teeth & Bite Problems
By the age of 12, most children will have had all but their wisdom teeth showing. Regular check-ups allows a pediatric dentist to observe your child's dental development and allow treatment of early problems before they become bigger ones. Common problems during the ages of six to 12 include malocclusion (bad bites such as crossbites or overbites), and the development of crooked and/or crowded teeth. Sometimes bad bites are hereditary but they can also be a result of sucking or tongue habits. Your pediatric dentist can identify and treat some forms of malocclusion and minimize or reduce the development of further problems including excessive wearing of teeth.

Crooked teeth are usually an outcome of crowding. Crowding occurs when there isn't enough space in the mouth for teeth to fit properly, and can be caused by early or late loss of primary teeth, or improper eruption of teeth. Crooked and/or crowded teeth can prevent the proper functioning of your teeth and can be difficult to keep clean leading to a greater chance of tooth decay. To correct crooked teeth due to crowding, appliances can be used to create space, or sometimes teeth are taken out, while braces can be used to properly align the teeth.

Dental Decay
Dental decay is caused by sugar mixing with plaque found on teeth to form an acid. The acid that is formed attacks the teeth and causes decay. Young children can avoid dental decay by brushing and flossing regularly, by reducing their sugar intake (especially in snacks) and by using a fluoride toothpaste or by taking fluoride supplements as prescribed by a pediatrician or dentist.

Esthetic Dentistry
As much as we stress the important of preventive dentistry, sometimes our esthetic services are required. And as your child grows older, they will become more concerned with their appearance. We offer a variety of restorative and esthetic services designed to return the smile to your child's face including:

• Tooth-colored fillings not only look natural, but they're stronger than mercury amalgams.
• Porcelain veneers are thin shells that go directly on the front of damaged or uneven teeth to achieve a great looking smile.
• Whitening quickly restores the natural brilliance to a smile.

Anxiety
It is not uncommon for young children to be anxious when visiting a dentist's office. We do all we can to relieve your child's anxiety — we are specially trained to understand child behavior, our staff loves working with children, and, from the relaxing atmosphere to the special fun area, our office has been designed with children in mind. We also recommend that you bring your children in for regular check-ups so they become used to visiting us and we become friendly faces. It's also important not to be too nervous yourself as children can sense parents' emotions through words and gestures-the less anxious you are, the less anxious your child will be.

Dental Injuries
Common dental injuries with active young children include fractured teeth or displaced teeth. Knowing what steps to take during a dental emergency can make a difference between losing and keeping a tooth. However, the first step is always to remain calm. Here are some suggestions for treating dental emergencies:
Lost tooth - If the tooth has fallen to the ground, it needs to be cleaned. Hold it by the crown under running water, and replace it in the socket. (The sooner this is done, the better as the tissues that attach teeth to bone dry out and die over time. If the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes it usually reattaches itself). Once the tooth is back in the socket, the child should bite down normally to ensure proper positioning. Call us immediately after this is done.

If the tooth cannot be replaced immediately, it should be placed in milk. If milk isn't available, store it in the child's mouth between their cheek and teeth. Your child should see us as soon as possible so we can complete treatment.

Broken tooth - Clean the mouth by gently rinsing with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call us immediately — a fractured tooth can be treated using esthetic techniques to look as good as new.

Teens

As children grow older, and especially when they hit their teens, they become more concerned with appearance — an unattractive smile can make them very self-conscious. We have special training so we are able to understand the special needs of teens and to understand the emotional importance of a healthy smile. As much as we promote preventive dentistry, sometimes our restorative services are the best option to rejuvenate a smile. Typical dental and dental-related issues surrounding teenagers include:

Diet & Dental Decay
A balanced diet is an important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. During the teen years, your child will grow rapidly and they need more vitamins and minerals than ever before. To satisfy their body's demands, your teenager will eat more, and more often. Unfortunately, teenagers often snack on foods that are high in sugar and don't take proper care of their teeth. The longer food is in the mouth the more teeth are at risk to decay. It is important for teenagers to eat well and to take care of their teeth. Snacks should be limited and ideally, should be low in sugar. Dental decay is caused by sugar mixing with plaque found on teeth to form an acid. The acid that is formed attacks the teeth and causes decay. Your teenager can avoid dental decay by brushing and flossing regularly, by reducing their sugar intake (especially in snacks) and by using a fluoride toothpaste or by taking fluoride supplements as prescribed by a pediatrician or dentist.

To remove plaque and food particles, brushing with a soft-bristled brush (hard bristles can damage gums) is recommended after each meal and before going to bed at night. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months or when the bristles become frayed.

Flossing is an important procedure as brushing alone only cleans 60% of the surface of your teeth — approximately 40% of your teeth are cleaned by flossing! Flossing not only removes food particles from between your teeth but by running the floss along teeth, it can remove plaque build-up which leads to tooth decay and bad breath. It is recommend that you rinse after flossing to remove any loose food particles in your mouth.

Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth usually erupt around the late teens. Common difficulties with wisdom teeth include impacted teeth (when they don't break through the gums) and lack of room, in which case we may suggest they are removed.

Crowded/Crooked Teeth & Bite Problems
Most facial growth in children is completed by the time they reach the age of 20. By the age of 12, most children will have had all but their wisdom teeth showing, which should erupt around the late teens. Regular check-ups allow us to observe your teenagers dental development and allow treatment of early problems before they become bigger ones. Common problems for growing children include malocclusion (bad bites such as crossbites or overbites), and the development of crooked and/or crowded teeth.
Sometimes bad bites are hereditary but they can also be a result of sucking or tongue habits as a young child. We can identify and treat some forms of malocclusion and minimize or reduce the development of further problems including excessive wearing of teeth.

Crooked teeth are usually an outcome of crowding. Crowding occurs when there isn't enough space in the mouth for teeth to fit properly, and can be caused by early or late loss of primary teeth, or improper eruption of teeth. Crooked and/or crowded teeth can prevent the proper functioning of your teeth and can be difficult to keep clean leading to a greater chance of tooth decay. To correct crooked teeth due to crowding, arches can be used to create space, or sometimes teeth are taken out, while braces can be used to properly align the teeth.

Esthetic Dentistry
As much as we stress the important of preventive dentistry, sometimes our esthetic services are required. And as your child grows older, and especially as teenagers, they become more concerned with their appearance. We offer a variety of restorative and esthetic services designed to return the smile to your child's face including:

• Tooth-colored fillings not only look natural, but they're stronger than mercury amalgams.
• Porcelain veneers are thin shells that go directly on the front of damaged or uneven teeth to achieve a great looking smile
• Whitening quickly restores the natural brilliance to a smile

Dental Injuries
The teen years mark a time of increased athletic activity including a lot of sports with physical contact. Common dental injuries with teenagers include fractured teeth or teeth that are displaced. Knowing what steps to take during a dental emergency can make a difference between losing and keeping a tooth. However, the first step is always to remain calm. Here are some suggestions for treating dental emergencies:
Lost tooth - If the tooth has fallen to the ground, it needs to be cleaned. Hold it by the crown under running water, and replace it in the socket. (The sooner this is done, the better as the tissues that attach teeth to bone dry out and die over time. If the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes it usually reattaches itself). Once the tooth is back in the socket, the child should bite down normally to ensure proper positioning. Call us immediately after this is done.
If the tooth cannot be replaced immediately, it should be placed in milk. If milk isn't available, store it in the child's mouth between their cheek and teeth. Your child should see us as soon as possible so we can complete treatment.
Broken tooth - Clean the mouth by gently rinsing with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call us immediately — a fractured tooth can be treated using esthetic techniques to look as good as new.

Anxiety
Although teenagers have visited dental offices many times, it isn't uncommon for them to remain anxious about their dental visits. The staff and doctor at pediatric practices are trained to recognize and understand the special concerns of teenagers so they feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

Children with Special Needs

Our advanced training allows us to understand and work with children with special needs whether physical, emotional, or both, and makes us an ideal choice for their care. We are able to provide the special planning and treatment that may be required for chronically ill children and/or children with congenital heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, cerebral palsy, and other conditions. Children with Down syndrome, oral clefts and other conditions may be more susceptible to delayed/accelerated tooth eruption, bite problems, missing/extra teeth, and other defects that we are able to treat.

Pediatric dentists have comprehensive education in behavior management, sedation, and anesthesia techniques so you can feel comfortable that your child will receive the best relaxation treatment based on their needs.

No matter the needs of your child, we maintain that the best treatment is preventive dentistry. Bring your child to our practice and we will plan a preventive program that will help your child enjoy a great smile.

Preventive Dentistry

We feel that preventive dentistry is the best treatment of all. Early and regular treatment can make a big difference in the future health of your child's smile. We aim to stop small problems before they turn into big problems. Preventive dentistry is something that dentist, child and parent can all participate in to ensure success.

Brushing and Flossing

Proper oral health is an important step to preventing tooth decay and gum disease. To remove plaque and food particles, brushing with a soft-bristled brush (hard bristles can damage gums) is recommended after each meal and before going to bed at night. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months or when the bristles become frayed.

Flossing is an important procedure as brushing alone only cleans 60% of the surface of your teeth — approximately 40% of your teeth are cleaned by flossing! Flossing not only removes food particles from between your teeth but by running the floss along teeth, it can remove plaque build-up which leads to tooth decay and bad breath. It is recommended that you rinse after flossing to remove any loose food particles in your mouth.

Check-ups

We stress the importance of regular check-ups — it not only gives us the opportunity to supervise the development of your child's teeth, but allows us to see early warning signs for a variety of problems including tooth decay and gum disease.

Regular check-ups include much more than a cleaning and fluoride treatment. We not only teach the importance of brushing and flossing habits, but take the time to ensure that your child has the right technique. We take pride in our ability to motivate children to take their dental health into their own hands.

Diet

Diet and eating habits are also important contributors to your child's dental health. We'll answer any questions you may have — from which foods are hard on children's teeth to the problems with snacking and everything in between.

Fluoride

Fluoride makes the enamel on teeth stronger and reduces the possibility of getting cavities. Although some toothpaste and mouth rinses can provide additional protection, we recommend the following two methods:
Systemic fluoride is the swallowing of fluoride, either through drinking water, or in non-fluoridated areas. It can be prescribed by a pediatrician or dentist.
Topical fluoride is applied directly to the teeth in our office and should be repeated every six months.

These fluoride methods can provide up to a 60% reduction in tooth decay.

Mouth Guards

Mouthguards help prevent broken teeth and injuries to other areas including the lips, tongue, face and jaw. Properly fitted, a mouthguard protects your smile during any activity, will stay in place, and allows you to talk and breathe easily. Talk to us about having a high quality, custom mouthguard made especially for you.

Sealants

Sealants protect areas of teeth vulnerable to decay by sealing out plaque and food. Sealants are easy to apply — it only takes a few minutes to seal each tooth. Sealants are bonded to the grooves of back teeth and prevent cavities from starting.

Responsibility for Your Oral Health

One of the things we stress at our practice is the importance of taking responsibility for your own oral health. There are plenty of things the doctor and hygienist can do to help your smile stay healthy, but the major responsibility for taking care of your teeth and gum belongs with you.

And there's more to taking care of your oral health than brushing and flossing regularly. All kinds of factors can have an affect on your oral health. In fact, if you read Diet and Dental Decay you will find that diet plays an important role in a healthy smile and fresh breath. Check out the section on Smoking — did you know that smokers have a 10 times greater incidence of periodontal disease than non-smokers?

Brush regularly. Floss regularly. Watch what you eat. And educate yourself on how to take care of your gums and teeth so you have a healthy and bright smile for life.

Smoking

By now, we all know that smoking is bad for your health. But smoking can also have an affect on your breath.

Tobacco use often leads to a common form of halitosis generally referred to as "smoker's breath". Smoking dries the membranes of the mouth and the lack of moisturizing saliva enhances the growth of bacteria leading to bad breath. In fact, studies have shown that smokers have a 10 times greater incidence of periodontal disease than non-smokers. Signs of periodontal disease can include:

• Bleeding gums
• Pus between gums and teeth
• Sensitivity when flossing
• Swelling or redness of gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together
• Receding Gums
• Loose teeth

Bad Breath

When an individual has bad breath, bacteria are often present in substantial numbers. In addition to bad breath, those byproducts that the bacteria produce and leave in the saliva, on the tongue and between the teeth can contribute to a very unpleasant taste. Bad breath can be caused by many factors including the food we eat, poor or irregular eating habits such as skipping meals, as well as the consumption of alcohol, and the use of tobacco.

Individuals who suffer from chronic bad breath react with great embarrassment and discomfort knowing that their mouth odor is unpleasant to those around them. It often causes anxiety and has a negative impact on self-esteem. It is necessary to have chronic bad breath assessed and treated for greater all-around health.

Self Esteem

The teen years can be a very stressful time and having a healthy self-esteem goes a long way in making these often difficult years easier. Self-esteem is related to many issues, including dental health. Taking proper care of your teeth can go a long way in making you feel better — after all, the first thing we notice about other people is their smile.

Good self-esteem is important because it helps you to feel good about yourself and feel proud of your accomplishments and abilities. Having good self-esteem is also important to making good choices about your mind and body. If you feel good about yourself, you'll be less likely to follow the crowd if your friends are doing something you think isn't healthy. If you have good self-esteem, you know that you're smart enough to make your own decisions and able to defend yourself against peer pressure.

How does one improve their self-esteem? It starts with you. Take a look at yourself and feel proud about who you are. And surround yourself with people who feel the same about you - stay away from people who are negative influences. Take care of yourself. Give yourself compliments. Stay positive. And smile.